Lubrication apparatus for spinning or twisting ring assemblies



W. A. KLUTTZ Feb. 7, 1967 LUBRIGATION APPARATUS FOR SPINNING OR TWISTING RING ASSEMBLIES Filed Sept. 16, 1964 INVENTOI'I U T T Z WALTER A. K L

BY 76 M ATTOR EY United States Patent G 3,302,382 LUBRICATION APPARATUS FOR SPINNING R TWISTING RING ASSEMBLIES Walter A. Kluttz, Gastonia, N.C., assignor to Klnttz Machine & Foundry Co., Gastonia, N.C., a partnership composed of JoAnn, Jean, Jennie W., and Walter A. Kluttz Filed Sept. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 396,963 9 Claims. (Cl. 57-120) This invention relates to textile spinning and twisting ring assemblies and more especially to a pneumatically actuated lubrication apparatus individual to each such assembly whereby flexible pressure may be applied to the lubricant at or near the point of application to the ring surface.

Heretofore, it has been proposed to incorporate in each ring assembly a reserve supply of lubricant, portions of which were intermittently withdrawn and forced onto the ring surface by means of a reciprocatory plunger pump ,(see PatentNo. 2,233,460). Such prior art devices are unsuitable for lubricating most of the present-day ring installations on account of the inflexibility of the pressure applied to and the resulting impact upon the lubricant during each lubrication operation. Since oil and similar fluid lubricants are substantially incompressible, the initial impact pressure of the plunger pump will impart -a high velocity to the lubricant during the expulsion stroke thereby causing spurting at the point of ring lubrication and damage to the adjacent yarn. It has also been proposed to apply pneumatic pressure to the inlet of a lubricant pump located remotely from and connected to a plurality of ring assemblies (see Patent No. 3,018,605). Although the latter prior art device alfords a measure of flexibility to the lubricant during the expulsion stroke, the remote location of the pump from the rings and the wide variation in conduit length from the central pump to the respective ring assemblies make it impossible to apply uniform pressure at the points of ring lubrication.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a textile ring assembly composed of a ring holder having a closed reservoir therein, a spinning or twisting ring detachably mounted on the holder, a duct connecting the reser voir and ring, and pneumatic means for yieldingly expelling the lubricant from the reservoir, through the duct and onto the ring. Thus, each assembly is provided with a self-contained, pneumatically actuated lubricant pump located at a predetermined distance from the point of ring lubrication.

It is another object of the invention to provide a ring assembly as above described in which the duct or conduit has a self-sealing disconnectable connection therein and which is automatically disconnectable and self-sealing upon the removal of the ring from the holder.

Some of the objects of invention having been stated, other object will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view, partly schematic, showing my lubrication system as applied to the ring rail and ring assemblies of a spinning or twisting frame;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing details of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of the central portion of FIGURE 2 and showing the disconnectable self-seal- 3,302,382 Patented Feb. 7, 1967 ice ing connection in the duct or conduit between the lubricant reservoir and ring;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detail view of the right-hand portion of FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken through the upper flange of the spinning or twisting ring.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 denotes a ring .rail of a spinning or twisting frame. The rail 10 has a plurality of spaced ring holders 11 secured therein (FIGURE 1), each of said holders having a horizontal annular opening 11a therein which is com centric with a vertically disposed yarn holder 12. Each holder 11 also has a horizontal peripheral flange 13 resting upon the upper surface of the rail and a rim 14 ex tending downwardly through the rail at right angles to the flange (FIGURE 2). Holder 11 is detachably secured to rail 10 by any suitable means such as an expansible band or hoop 15 fitting in a peripheral groove 14a of rim 14 and also fitting against the lower surface of the rail. The holder 11 is therefore detachably secured against vertical movement relative to rail 10 by means of hoop 15.

The upper portion of holder 11 is provided with an annular horizontally disposed re-entrant groove 16 which is concentric with opening 11a. An expansible and contractable bottom outer flange portion 17 of a spinning ring 18 is detachably secured in groove 16, said flange portion being U-shaped in cross-section and preferably formed of spring metal. A plurality of circumferentially spaced slots 17a are provided in the U-shaped flange portion 17 in order to render it contractible when removing it vertically from groove 16.

U-shaped portion 17 has integral therewith a vertically disposed annular web portion 17b, the latter portion being concentric with opening 11a. A second vertically disposed annular web portion 19 is secured to the outer periphery of portion 17b by suitable means such as resistance welding or a press fit. The upper end of Web I portion 19 has integral therewith a U-shaped outwardly tional traveler 20 thereon which is moved around the flange portions under the influence of a strand 21 as the latter is wound upon holder 12..

The flange 13 of ring holder 11 has a horizontal extension 13a which rests upon ring rail 10, the outer end of said extension having a vertical extension 1312 integral therewith and resting against a vertical edge of the ring rail. Vertical extension 13b prevents relative ro tation between the ring holder 11 and the ring rail 10.

The structure thus far described. closely resembles the disclosure in my copending patent application Serial Nb.

354,672 and is included in the present application merely to illustrate one of many types of ring assemblies which may be associated with the invention.

It will be observed in FIGURES 2 and 5 that the outer U-shaped flange 19a has an annular opening or circularlyshaped reservoir 19d therein in which a fibrous Wick material 25 is inserted to receive the lubricant adjacent the ring surface to be lubricated, said lubricant being adapted to flow from the wick, through one or more orifices 26, and onto the lower surface of ring insert 1%. Lubricant is supplied to flange reservoir 19d by a vertically disposed duct or conduit 27, the lower end of which penetrates a neoprene or a similar type of self-sealing diaphragm 28 of junction box 29 mounted in the ring holder 11.

When it is desired to detach ring 18 from holder 11, the lower outer ring flange 17 is contracted to permit vertical removal from groove 16. As the ring is lifted vertically, the lower end of duct or conduit 27 is Withdrawn vertically from diaphragm 28, and the diaphragm opening previously accommodating the conduit end is automatically sealed to prevent escape of lubricant from the junction box 29.

A second conduit 30 leads horizontally within extensions 13a and 13b and connects the junction box 29 with a concave pumping recess 31. One wall of recess 31 is made of flexible material such as rubber and serves as a diaphragm between the recess or oil compartment 31 and an air compartment 33, the latter compartment being formed in plug 34 removably secured in the vertical flange extension 13b.

During a lubrication operation, pressurized air flows from air supply line 35, through passageways 36 and 37 and into compartment 33 (FIGURES 2 and 4) to thereby compress flexible diaphragm 32 and expel the lubricant from recess 31, through conduit 30, junction box 29, conduit 27, and into circular recess 19d of the upper and outer flange 19a of ring 18. While lubricant is expelled from recess 31 as described above, the admission of lubricant into recess 31 will be prevented by a spring pressed check valve 40 disposed between the recess 31 and a lubricant supply line 41. On the other hand, while the air pressure in compartment 33 is relieved or absent, lubricant will flow under pressure from supply line 41, through check valve 40, and into recess 31 to cause diaphragm 32 to return to its normal position as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4.

The air supply lines 35 of the respective ring holders 11 (FIGURE 1) are detachably connected in series by pieces of flexible tubing 35a, said series connection communicating with a 3-Way air valve 43 by means of a conduit 44. Compressed air flows from a tank 45, through a conduit 46, a pressure regulator 47 and a conduit 48 to the 3-way valve 43, said valve being electrically controlled during a lubrication operation by a cycle duration timer 50 and'a cycle frequency timer 51. For example, the timer may be set so that each intermittent lubricant expulsion from recess 31 will last for a specified period as a result of the passage of air from tank 45 through the three-way valve 43 and into air compartment 33. Similarly, the cycle frequency timer 51 may be set to control the time intervals between such intermittent admissions,

Valve 43 and timers 50 and 51 are connected by electric conduits 53 and 54 to a suitable source of electrical current.

The lubricant supply lines 41 of the respective holders 11 (FIGURE 1) are detachably connected in series by pieces of flexible tubing 41a, said series connection communicating with a lubricant tank thereabove through a conduit 56.

In the drawings and specification a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, and although specific terms are employed they are used in a generic sense and not intended for the purpose of limitation, the scope of invention being set forth in the following claims I claim: I

1. In combination, a horizontally disposed textile ring rail having a vertically disposed opening therein, a vertically insertable ring holder disposed in said opening, means integral with said holder and slidably engageable with said rail during the vertical insertion of the holder for preventing relative rotation between the rail and holder, a ring detachably mounted on said holder, a closed lubricant reservoir on said slidably engageable means, one wall of said reservoir including a flexible diaphragm, a conduit extending from said reservoir, a second conduit extending from said ring, means for detachably connecting said extending conduit ends, means operable upon disconnection of said ends for closing the extending end of said first conduit, pneumatic means for flexing said diaphragm to thereby expel lubricant from said reservoir, through said conduits and onto said ring, and means operable alternately with the operation of said pneumatic means for replenishing the reservoir with lubricant.

2. In combination, a horizontally disposed textile ring rail having a vertically disposed opening therein, a vertically insertable ring holder disposed in said opening, means integral with said holder and slidably engageable with said rail during the vertical insertion of the holder for preventing relative rotation between the ring and holder, a ring mounted on said holder, a closed lubricant reservoir on said slidably engageable means, the wall of said reservoir including a flexible diaphragm, a conduit connecting said ring with said reservoir, pneumatic means for flexing said diaphragm to thereby expel lubricant from said reservoir, through said conduit and onto said ring, and means operable alternately with the operation of said pneumatic means for replenishing the reservoir with lubricant.

3. In combination, a horizontally disposed textile ring rail having a vertically disposed opening therein, a vertically insertable ring holder disposed in said opening, means integral with said holder and slidably engageable with said rail during the vertical insertion of the holder for preventing relative rotation between the rail and holder, a ring mounted on said holder, a closed lubricant reservoir on said slidably engageable means, the wall of said reservoir including a flexible diaphragm, a conduit connecting said ring with said reservoir, and pneumatic means for flexing said diaphragm to thereby expel lubricant from the reservoir, through said conduit and onto said ring.

4. In combination with a textile ring holder having a ring mounted thereon, a closed lubricant reservoir carried by said holder, the wall of said reservoir including a flexible diaphragm, a conduit connecting said ring with said reservoir, pneumatic means for flexing said diaphragm to thereby expel lubricant from said reservoir, through said conduit and onto said ring, and means operable alternately with the operation of said pneumatic means for replenishing the reservoir with lubricant.

5. In combination with a textile ring holder having a ring mounted thereon, a closed lubricant reservoir carried by said holder, one wall of said reservoir being flexible, a conduit connecting said ring with said reservoir, means including said flexible wall for forming a closed compartment adjacent said reservoir, and pneumatic means communicating with said compartment for flexing said wall to thereby expel lubricant from said reservoir, through said conduit and onto said ring.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 and further comprising means operable alternately with the operation of said last-named means for replenishing said reservoir with lubricant.

7. In combination, a textile ring holder, a ring detachably mounted on said holder, a closed lubricant reservoir on said holder, one wall of said reservoir being flexible, a conduit extending from said reservoir, a second conduit extending from said ring, means for detachably connecting said extending conduit ends, means operable upon disconnection of said ends for closing the extending end of said first conduit, and means for flexing said wall to thereby expel lubricant from said reservoir, through said conduits and onto said ring.

8. In combination, a textile ring holder, 21 ring detach- 2,437,208 3/1948 Pope 57120 ably mounted on said holder, a lubricant reservoir on said 2 479 401 1949 Pope 57 2 holder, a conduit extending from said reservoir, a second 2 728 415 12/1955 Leclair 184 7 conduit extending from said ring, means for detachably connecting said extending conduit ends, and means oper- 5 3095689 7/1963 Keys 57 120' able upon disconnection of said ends for closing the extending end of said first conduit. FOREIGN PATENTS 9. The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said detachably connecting means comprises a self-sealing neoprene partition.

698,209 1 1/1940 Germany.

10 FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner. References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,233,460 3/1941 Stahl 57-l20 A. I. SIDOTI, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED TEXTILE RING RAIL HAVING A VERTICALLY DISPOSED OPENING THEREIN, A VERTICALLY INSERTABLE RING HOLDER DISPOSED IN SAID OPENING, MEANS INTEGRAL WITH SAID HOLDER AND SLIDABLY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID RAIL DURING THE VERTICAL INSERTION OF THE HOLDER FOR PREVENTING RELATIVE ROTATION BETWEEN THE RAIL AND HOLDER, A RING DETACHABLY MOUNTED ON SAID HOLDER, A CLOSED LUBRICANT RESERVOIR ON SAID SLIDABLY ENGAGEABLE MEANS, ONE WALL OF SAID RESERVOIR INCLUDING A FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGM, A CONDUIT EXTENDING FROM SAID RESERVOIR, A SECOND CONDUIT EXTENDING FROM SAID RING, MEANS FOR DETACHABLY CONNECTING SAID EXTENDING CONDUIT ENDS, MEANS OPERABLE UPON DISCONNECTION OF SAID ENDS FOR CLOSING THE EXTENDING END OF SAID FIRST CONDUIT, PNEUMATIC MEANS FOR FLEXING SAID DIAPHRAGM TO THEREBY EXPEL LUBRICANT FROM SAID RESERVOIR, THROUGH SAID CONDUITS AND ONTO SAID RING, AND MEANS OPERABLE ALTERNATELY WITH THE OPERATION OF SAID PNEUMATIC MEANS FOR REPLENISHING THE RESERVOIR WITH LUBRICANT. 